, 1887-10-06
THE PRESIDENTS TOUR
enthusiastically Received in
The Lake City.
Eager Crowds Flock to Greet
the President.
A Day Long to be Remembered
by Chicagoans.
The President In Chicago.

CHICAGO, Oct. 5.-The train bearing
President Cleveland and wife pulled slow
ly in,o the Alton depot at Twenty thiri
street at 9:I0 o'clock this morning. There
was a loud shout from the crowd and a
buzz OF three cheers as the distinguished
pair walked across the platform to their
carriage A moment later the carriage
door closed with a slam and four spirited
horses jumped as the whip circled over
their heads, aud the president was riding
through the streets Of Chicago.
1t was only a few moments after 7
O'Clock this morning when the people
commenced to stop at the depot where
the president was advertised to alight
from his special train, but it was a wei
come lifting of the great republic that
the president received when no landed
for the first time at Chicago. The en-
thuslasm was electrical. Such crowds,
such bright faces in the same number,
were never seen before. There must
have been 50, 900 men, women and chl
dren gathered within a few blocks of
the station.
Only half a dozen stops were made dur
ing the presidents trip from St. Lo1is,
and these were made at water stations,
where little knots of people awaited and
passed the train to look at the car which
contained the sleeping president. Tie
president was called early this morning to
give him an opportunty of seeing some
Of the rich prairie country. He appeared
on the rear platform shortly after sunrise
and the farmers recognizing the solitary
figure shouted with delight as the train
rushed by.
At Joliet through that place the train
ran very slowly and several thousands
filed the platform. Mrs. Cleveland had
now made her appearance and took her
place beside her husband, At Leamont,
Ill, 500 quarry men we're drawn up 10
line. Gen. Villas boarded the train with
three friends six miles from the city and
accompal led the president to town.
When the train drew up at Twenty sec
ond street station the presidents party
we're taken in hand by a reception com
mIttee and taken to carriages.
AS the presidential carriage with the
fair mistress OF the white house came in
view, a cheer went uD from the masses
that filled the street. Close up beh nd the
carriages came the Milwaukee light horse
squadron, and battery Z, 4th artillery,
United States army. The crowd had
yelled itself hoarse cheering for the presi
dent, when the second division swung
into line at the corner of Michigan avenue
aud Twenty third street. The people
along the line of march were packed as
never before in Chicago. On the tops OF
houses and in windows we're crowds OF
anxious faces, and from the roots hoated
streamers, evidently improvised hurriedly
for the occasion. When she procession
reached the reviewing stand the president
alIghtei from his carriage, and the long
line passed in review.
Above the heads of the crowd could
be seen the helmeted military. They
were truly a fine lot of men. In all
there were four companies of cavalry and
artillery. Their arrival created a sensa-
ton which grew more and more tumult-
Gus as the presidential equIpage appeared
on the scene. The crowd was entirely
good natured. Its one wish seemed to
be to express respect for the president
and his lady. Although boisterous at
times, as all crowds are, this one was on
its good behavior, and readily enough
Obeyed the requests of the police to stand
back and leave a clear space through
which the president might pass.
The parade was very large and varied.
The regular infantry, cavalry, artillery and
mauy different militia organizations headed
1t, and were followed by the veterans OF
the war, civil societies of all classes, etc.
When the presidents carriage reached
the reviewing stand the United Stat s
steamer Michigan, which lay in the har-
Dor Just opposite, fired a presidential
salute OF twenty one guns. This was the
signal for the mob of 1000 people to
overrun the procession and swarm like
ants toward the stand in their eageruess
to see the president.
When the president made his way to
the stand he and a few officials with him
were almost pushed over the railing by the
mob, who engaged in an insane struggle
for the front. During the heighth Of the
jam a terrific crash was heard and half a
hundred people who had squeezed them
selves onto the reporters tables were pre-
cipitated to the ground. No one was
seriously injured, though the incident al
most created a panic.
When comparative quiet was restored
Mayor Roche stepped forward and deliv
cred his welr.ming address, to which the
president r. Il D.
lu response To Mayor Roche's address
OF welcome he SAID: 1T was soon after
the election of 1884 hat an old resident
of your city was earnestly urging me to
pay you a visit. He endeavored to meet
all objections that were started and insist
ed with unyielding ~pertlnacity that this
invitation be accepted. AT last, and after
all persuasion seemed to fail, he vehe-
nently broke out with this declaration:
The people up where l live don't think a
man is fit for president who has never
seen Chicago
Il have often thought Of this since hat
time, and sometimes when | have felt
| was not doing for the people and the
public welfare all that might be done or
all hat | would like to do, l have won
dered whether things would have gone on
better if | had visited Chicago. Indeed,
1t has, L believe, been publicly stated on
one or more occasions lately, when the
shortcomings of the chief executive under
discussion, that nothing better could be
expected of a man who had never been
west of some designated place or river,
and this, l suppose, means the same
thing that my Chicago friend meant, and
involves the same accusation and conclu-
sions. If my alleged official crimes and
| miadanaauor thus chs rifa hlv aa.